If you want your garden to be filled with wildlife this spring, it’s easier than you might think. In fact, if you want birds to call your backyard home, ignoring chores rather than tackling them is the way to go – great news for the busy and lazy among us.
Wildlife expert and head of production Richard Green from Kennedy Wild Bird Food & Pet Supplies has shared his top tips on how homeowners can attract and care for birds in their garden, as well as the key features that will keep them returning. He said: “Cutting back hedges and trees before spring is one of the easiest ways to help nesting birds. Once the weather warms up, nests may already be hidden in the branches, and trimming at that point could disturb the birds or harm their eggs and chicks.
“Leaving parts of your garden a little messy during nesting season, like keeping leaves, twigs, and other natural materials on the ground, helps birds find what they need to build safe and sturdy nests.”
Although it can be tempting to leave shreds of yarn, pet fur or hair in the garden to help birds with their nests, this can do more harm than good.
Green said: “These materials can be harmful as pet fur may contain flea or tick treatments that can be toxic to wild birds, while human hair and yarn scraps pose a choking risk.
“Planting shrubs and trees that produce fruit in winter and spring, such as holly berries, ivy, or hawthorns, gives birds a natural food source when they need it most. These fruits also save birds the effort of searching far and wide for food.”
If you want to feed the birds that visit your garden, it’s best to try and stick to a regular schedule for repeat visitors. Green said: “Feeding tips are simple but effective in attracting more birds.
“Maintain a regular feeding schedule so birds can rely on your garden as a consistent food source and offer a variety of foods, such as sunflower seeds, suet, and fruit, which can cater to different species so that you attract a diverse group of birds.”
He added you’ll see benefits from planting a steady food supply as well as fresh water. “Birds are also more likely to return to areas with a steady food supply, such as plants with seeds or nectar,” he said.
“To further encourage birds to stay, it’s important to provide a constant water supply. Birds not only need water for drinking but also for bathing. A shallow birdbath with moving water, like a fountain, is particularly effective in attracting birds. The sound of moving water is highly appealing, and it helps keep the water fresh and clean.”
